We attended the largest Japanese street festival, 49th Sakura Matsuri in Washington DC on April 04 (Sat). We left our office at 3am and went straight to DC… arrived at 8am. Dark New York night to sunny morning in DC, spring blue sky smiled with…. BIG WIND!

Big wind blew everything away including tents!

All the Sakura Matsuri staff members and vendors struggled with big winds for setting up their booth… Finally water tanks came and held the tents on the ground tightly. Oh… please… stop wind…. my prayer like a whisper… unfortunately our tenugui flew around our booth like spring butterflies…

people.. people... and more people!

The festival started at 11am. People.. people… and more people showed up on Pennsylvania Avenue. I am not sure how many visitors came to the festival, but at least 150,000 people were there I guess!

The best smile with her new sakura sakura tenugui

Many people came to our booth. Some of them already knew what is Tenugui, and some did not. One girl and her family visited our Tenugui booth. They picked a plum tree mansion Tenugui and Sakura Sakura Tenugui. I am so happy to see that they really liked their new things “TENUGUI”. I should have asked her name… she has the best smile with her Sakura breezy headband. I named her “My Smiling Angel”.

I got a special gift in this event. I have run my own Tenugui business since 2007. We strictly do online business, so no shops in New York. I believe that I could introduce Tenugui through internet worldwide. And also, I believe that I could connect with you through this square computer screen where ever you are. But also… I do know that it makes me so happy more than anything?to meet with wuhao friends – face to face!
Deirdre is one of my customers and she has always a special place in my heart since she sent me an e-mail last year. Deirdre and her husband Kim with their little puppy Fin came to our Tenugui booth without me knowing! How sweet surprise… ?jump out from the square screen and we finally met each other at the Sakura Matsuri! Even more, she brought her favorite Summer Hanabi Tenugui and showing me how much she loves it. Thank you so much for the sweet surprise Deirdre, Kim and Finn! You are always in my heart and you show me what is my life job. I hope and I know that Tenugui always brightens up?our new day. Dear Deirdre, Kim and Finn… please come back and come to see me again next year also. Let’s celebrate the cherry blossoms and our new spring together!

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Super staff - Izumi and Emi, You are the best!

And…. my super staff Izumi and Emi! I know that I could not have done this event without you both. Big wind… thousands thousands people… You both have great spirits and perfect teamwork together. I realized that any kind of job cannot be done without support…, have to have a great team! Thank you very much for your wonferful work, Izumi-chan and Emi-chan. I am so glad to meet you both and hope see you again soon!

And thank you very much Japan America Society of Washington DC for giving us this great oppotinity to show our Tenugui!!!

Beautiful Day in DC… I found what I would like to do for my future with my Tenugui. And most of all… face to face… with voice, with expression, with smile and with hug… we really need that for our life.

"The beauty is in that difference"
I've been fortunate in my life to have visited many different places in this world,
and to have interacted with many different cultures. I find Japan to be one of the best....Read more